Planners opt to tour site before voting on Portwalk

PORTSMOUTH — The Planning Board wants to take a closer look at the controversial Portwalk mixed-use development before voting on its new site plan application.

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By Jeff McMenemy

seacoastonline.com

By Jeff McMenemy

Posted May. 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Jeff McMenemy
Posted May. 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — The Planning Board wants to take a closer look at the controversial Portwalk mixed-use development before voting on its new site plan application.

So the board voted Thursday night to postpone making any decision on the downtown development until after they visit the site.

Deputy City Manager Dave Allen, who's also a member of the board, made the motion to postpone a vote on the revised site plan during the board's City Hall meeting.

Allen said the board found itself in a "unique situation where we have this unprecedented project and unprecedented situation" where the board is set to vote on a site plan for something that's almost totally built.

Allen argued the board should "go out there and see it," and ultimately make its decision based on "what's actually out there," rather than relying on the plans themselves.

Planning Board Chairman John Ricci recused himself from both the discussion and vote on Portwalk.

The board has not yet scheduled a date for the site walk.

The developers of the downtown mixed-use project have acknowledged they made unauthorized changes to the project and, as part of the agreement reached with City Attorney Bob Sullivan dated March 4, agreed to "comply with whatever final decision might be reached by the (Historic District Commission) and the Planning Board" with respect to the revised plans submitted by developers.

They also agreed not to appeal any decisions made by the boards and to resubmit plans to the city with all the changes for new consideration.

City Planning Director Rick Taintor told the Planning Board on Thursday that the city's Historic District Commission had agreed to "most of the changes in the hotel" portion of the mixed-use project, but hadn't yet started addressing the unauthorized changes to the apartments in the development.

The project, when completed, will feature office and retail space, 113 apartments, a restaurant, a parking garage and a 120-room Hampton Inn and Suites. The project is located at the intersection of Deer and Hanover streets and Maplewood Avenue.

Taintor went over a series of stipulations that Portwalk developers had agreed to with the HDC and a number of recommendations he made to the board.

But the most-discussed issue was a brick wall on Maplewood Avenue.

Resident Joe Caldarola asked the board if they could force Portwalk developers to change the wall, noting that the screening wall "is offensive to a lot of residents in the area."

Another city resident said many locals are now calling Maplewood Avenue "Wall Street."

City Councilor Jack Thorsen, who also serves on the Planning Board, said he thought if the board did move to approve the site plan, they should do so only after putting in a stipulation to have the developers change the wall.

"It's certainly appropriate ...; we could put in a stipulation about what to do with the wall," Thorsen said.